Keepers at Home-Dealing with Postpartum Depression, Depression, Anxiety and Suicidal Thoughts

What is Postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a type of depression that happens after having a baby. It affects up to 15% of people. Postpartum depression doesn't just affect the birthing mother. It can affect surrogates and adoptive parents, too. People experience hormonal, physical, emotional, financial and social changes after having a baby. These changes can cause symptoms of postpartum depression. People with postpartum depression experience emotional highs and lows, frequent crying, fatigue, guilt, anxiety and may have trouble caring for their baby.

Postpartum depression symptoms may include:

• Depressed mood or severe mood swings
• Crying too much
• Difficulty bonding with your baby
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
• Inability to sleep, called insomnia, or sleeping too much
• Overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy
• Less interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
• Intense irritability and anger
• Fear that you're not a good mother
• Hopelessness
• Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy
• Reduced ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions
• Restlessness
• Severe anxiety and panic attacks
• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Postpartum psychosis

With postpartum psychosis — a rare condition that usually develops within the first week after delivery — the symptoms are severe. Symptoms may include:

• Feeling confused and lost
• Having obsessive thoughts about your baby
• Hallucinating and having delusions
• Having sleep problems
• Having too much energy and feeling upset
• Feeling paranoid
• Making attempts to harm yourself or your baby

Tips to assist with Postpartum depression:-

1. Understand that mental disorder or mental illness is a spirit.

2. Confide in your husband and let him know how you are feeling.

3. Confide in someone who truly considers you and are interested in your well being.

4. Use a diary to write down your feelings this is a way to express yourself.

5. Pray, Fast and ask The Most High to remove this spirit from you. Ask your husband to do the fast with you. Ask sisters you trust to do the fast with you to help remove the spirit of depression.

6. Be more active and develop a routine.

7. Reward yourself and take that well needed day for you and pamper yourself.

8. Listen to the bible and soothing music to help with tasks around the house. 

9. Ensure you eat well and get enough sleep.

10. Pray every day for strength and courage to get through another day. Be thankful and grateful for the many blessings The Most High bestowed upon you.  Remember that there are sisters who can't get pregnant and you were blessed to receive a child from The Most High.

Scriptures to help remove postpartum depression-

Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,

57 And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates. 

Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. 

1Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.  

Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 

2Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Matthew 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Ecclesiasticus 23:2 Who will set scourges over my thoughts, and the discipline of wisdom over mine heart? that they spare me not for mine ignorances, and it pass not by my sins:

Ecclesiasticus 30:23 Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart, remove sorrow far from thee: for sorrow hath killed many, and there is no profit therein.

Wisdom of Solomon 1:12 Seek not death in the error of your life: and pull not upon yourselves destruction with the works of your hands.

Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

Isaiah 38:18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. 

Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 

1 Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Ecclesiasticus 2:1 My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation. 

2 Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble. 

3 Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end. 

4 Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate. 

5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. 

6 Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him. 

7 Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall. 

8 Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail. 

9 Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy. 

10 Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him? 

11 For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.

Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 

What is Depression?

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.

Depression affects an estimated one in 15 adults (6.7%) in any given year. And one in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some time in their life. Depression can occur at any time, but on average, first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Women are more likely than men to experience depression. Some studies show that one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime. There is a high degree of heritability (approximately 40%) when first-degree relatives (parents/children/siblings) have depression.

Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:

• Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Loss of energy or increased fatigue
• Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others)
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide

What is Anxiety?

Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).

These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time. You may avoid places or situations to prevent these feelings. Symptoms may start during childhood or the teen years and continue into adulthood.

Examples of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific phobias and separation anxiety disorder. You can have more than one anxiety disorder. Sometimes anxiety results from a medical condition that needs treatment.

Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:

• Feeling nervous, restless or tense
• Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
• Having an increased heart rate
• Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Feeling weak or tired
• Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
• Having trouble sleeping
• Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
• Having difficulty controlling worry
• Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

Most of the tips to assist with postpartum depression and scriptures listed above, can be used to treat any mental disorder or mental illness.

What are Suicidal Thought?

Suicidal thoughts can range from passing thoughts about death, such as wondering what it feels like to die or thinking, “What if I just went to sleep and didn’t wake up?” to specific plans about suicide, such as thinking about how and when you might end your life. Passing thoughts of suicide can get worse if they are not addressed. If you are struggling with any of these feelings or behaviors, it is time to reach out for support:

• Feeling disconnected from others or withdrawing from friends and family.
• Feeling trapped in an intolerable situation.
• Feeling like a burden to others or telling others they would be better off without you.
• Thinking, talking, or posting online about death or violence.

Dangerous behaviors:

• Driving recklessly, such as driving under the influence or without a seat belt.
• Increasing drug or alcohol use.
• Engaging in unsafe sex.
• Starting or increasing self-injury.
• Changes in diet, either restricting your eating or binge eating.
• Changes in sleep patterns, either sleeping too much or too little.

Big changes in mood:

• Experiencing mood swings of extreme sadness, rage, or anxiety.
• Feeling increased irritability or agitation.
• A sudden shift in behavior from agitated or angry to calm or even cheerful. It may seem like an improvement, but it can be a warning signal for a suicide attempt because it can indicate being “at peace” with ending life. If you start to feel this way, seek help immediately.

When you’re feeling suicidal, it can feel overwhelming. It may feel like you have no other option than to act on these feelings. That there’s nothing that will make the thoughts or feelings go away. Or that it’s the only way the pain will stop. Your feelings of pain are very real. But it’s important to know they can pass.

Here are some tips to assist with suicidal thoughts

1. Pray, Fast and ask The Most High to remove this spirit from you. Ask your husband to do the fast with you. Ask sisters you trust to do the fast with you to help remove the spirit of depression.
2. Get enough sleep.
3. Eat a balanced diet.
4. Think about people you love and care about you
5. Focus on getting through this moment or this day rather than focusing too much on the future or the rest of your life.
6. Try to remember that this feeling is temporary and it will pass.  
7. Change your immediate thoughts by doing something or thinking of something different. It doesn’t have to be a big change or take a lot of effort.
8. Talk to someone you trust that will give sound advice. If you don't want to talk to someone you know you can reach out to a professional for emotional support https://findahelpline.com/countries/tt/topics/suicidal-thoughts. Or Call 800-COPE (2673)
9. Create a crisis book or hope book, this is a book that will be filled with pictures or items that make you feel happier about life.
10. Make a safety plan and keep it with you https://www.mysafetyplan.org/static/NationalSPA-c4a86b10761e54a2dd835519b48ff479.pdf
11. Get out and be around people, go shopping, take a nature walk, go to a hair salon, get a manicure or pedicure. Do something fun, something that brings you enjoyment.
12. Know your triggers. Triggers are things which might make you feel worse. Triggers are different for different people. You may find that certain music, photos or films make you feel worse. Try to stay away from these. 
13. Write down your triggers. If you can understand what your triggers are, it can help you to be more in control of your feelings or stress levels. 
14. It is advisable to create wellbeing plan see here https://euc7zxtct58.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/26122110/MHUK-My-Wellbeing-plan.pdf
15. Do not use drugs or consume alcohol as they affect the parts of your brain that controls judgement, concentration, behaviour and emotions. If you’re feeling low, drinking alcohol might bring on suicidal thoughts or make them worse. 
16. Go to a safe place for example a sister's house, a friend's house, a family member's house, your bedroom.
17. Stay away from knives, razor blades, scissors or anything that can be considered a danger. 
18. Do exercises to calm your nervous system. Especially if you are feeling panicked, worried, or overwhelmed by your thoughts and feelings. 
19. Try grounding exercises. Vision-Focus your attention on something beautiful or comforting. Like a meaningful photograph, piece of art, or a nice view. Hearing-Listen to calming music, your favourite song and other. Smell. Notice smells around you or find something you like the smell of. Like some soap, a type of food, or an essential oil. Taste. Find something to taste and do it slowly and mindfully. Savour each moment. Notice the flavours, how it feels on your tongue, and what thoughts you have about it. Touch. Stroke or feel something comforting. Get in a dressing gown or comfy blanket. Stroke a pet. Suck on some ice. Notice how the different sensations feels in your body. 
20. Say out loud 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can touch, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.
21. Find ways to distract yourself or busy yourself, some examples are listed below:- 

• Read your bible, book or magazine.
• Have a fun outdoor day with your kids
• Do some cooking or baking
• Watch a film or TV.
• Go to a museum.
• Draw or paint.
• Listen to music.
• Do some gardening.
• Exercise. Walk, run, swim, or whatever you enjoy.
• Play video games or other games or puzzles you enjoy.
• Singing or playing a musical instrument.
• Spend time with your pet.
• Set small goals to focus on. You could do the laundry, make a cake, or tidy or organise something.
• Other ways of distractions can be found here https://www.papyrus-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Distraction-Techniques.pdf 

22. Keep a diary and make a list of all the positive things about yourself and your life. In it you can also write down your strengths and positive things other people have said about you and one thing you felt good about, something good you did, or something good someone did for you. 

23. Try reframing exercises eg:- 1. Write down 3 things that went well so far today. You might feel like nothing went well. But if you think you can always find things, however small. It might be as simple as ‘I got out of bed’, ‘I made breakfast’ or ‘I told someone I was not okay’. 2. Write down 3 things that you are grateful for in your life. For example, running water, a close friend, and a comfy bed. You could also write a letter of thanks to a loved one, saying how grateful you are. You can focus on the positive things they give you or others. 3. You may have a negative situation or experience you’re thinking about. You can write this down then think of 2 positives that have come from it. The negative thing might be ‘I’m feeling suicidal’. The 2 positive things might be: ‘I know I have people I can reach out to’, and ‘I’ve connected with others who have survived, so I know it’s possible.’

24. More reframing exercises with positive psychology can be found here https://positivepsychology.com/positive-psychology-interventions/

25. Write down a problem you have and things that may help you solve this problem.

26. Practice various breathing exercises www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/breathing-exercises-for-stress 

27. Try coping exercises www.papyrus-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Coping-Strategies.pdf. 

28. Subscribe to this page and review topics that will help you become stronger and more resilient https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyinaNutshell

Scriptures to help remove Suicidal thoughts

Ecclesiasticus 30:23 Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart, remove sorrow far from thee: for sorrow hath killed many, and there is no profit therein.

Matthew 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Isaiah 38:18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.  

Wisdom of Solomon 1:12 Seek not death in the error of your life: and pull not upon yourselves destruction with the works of your hands.

Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

Ecclesiasticus 2:1 My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation. 2 Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble. 3 Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end. 4 Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate. 5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. 6 Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him. 7 Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall. 8 Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail. 9 Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy. 10 Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him? 11 For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.

Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

2Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  

Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Exodus 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 

1Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. 

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Acts 16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Psalms 118:17 - I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. 

Psalm 40:1 (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.) I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.